Zeniarai Benzaiten Ugafuku Shrine, Yokohama

Hidden in a small valley west of central Kamakura, Zeniarai Benzaiten Ugafuku Shrine is one of the city’s most unusual sacred sites. The area is linked to Minamoto no Yoritomo, founder of the Kamakura shogunate, who is said to have discovered a spring here around 1185 after receiving guidance in a dream. Although the sacred site has medieval associations, the shrine itself was likely built much later, in the late 19th century.

The shrine is dedicated to Benzaiten, a goddess associated with water, wealth, wisdom, and the arts. Its worship reflects a distinctive blend of beliefs: Benzaiten combines elements of Sarasvati, a Buddhist goddess of Indian origin, with Ugafukujin, a local spirit connected with abundance. This mixture of Shinto and Buddhist traditions gives the shrine a character unlike many other sacred places in Japan.

The shrine’s most famous custom began in 1257 and remains its main attraction today. Visitors wash coins and banknotes in the cave spring, using small baskets, in the belief that the money will multiply or bring good fortune if later used wisely.

Reached through a tunnel cut into the rock, the grounds feel secluded and almost hidden from the outside world. Shinto gates, Buddhist statues, stone lanterns, small shrines, flowing water, and cave-like spaces create a memorable atmosphere. There is no entrance fee, though donations are accepted.